House Democrats Relaunch Jobs Agenda

For Immediate Release:

May 3, 2011

Contact:

Jessica Brady
Roll Call

House Democrats plan to rev up their jobs message as they fight for relevancy on the issue going into the summer months.

Minority Whip Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) told reporters Tuesday that Democrats will roll out a host of legislative proposals Wednesday as part of their “Make It in America” agenda. Some of the items have already been introduced by Democratic Members, Hoyer said, and all will be focused on boosting exports and lowering the unemployment rate.

“This agenda is designed to create jobs, and jobs particularly focused on manufacturing which are higher paying, more benefits providing the kinds of jobs that will uplift Americans and provide them with opportunities,” the Maryland Democrat told reporters during his weekly briefing.

Hoyer noted that 1.75 million jobs have been added in the last 14 months, although the national unemployment rate currently is 9.2 percent.

“Not enough jobs have been created and we need to be focused on doing that, which is what the ‘Make It in America’ agenda does,” Hoyer said.

Democrats initially launched the plan in July as one of their top campaign themes during the midterm elections. After losing the majority in November, Democrats promised to continue their focus on the initiative to boost manufacturing jobs. Legislative priorities that fall under the jobs plan include extending research and development tax credits and reinstating the Build America Bonds program.